I'm SOOOO &#*$@ tired of inferior parts

[dpuckett]

THis is a bit of a vent, aimed to AutoZone, Advance, et al, that sell crappy rebuilt (obviously by a 3year old chimpanzee) parts that fail in 6 months or less.

I bought a new alternator for my 91 in March or April of 03. I have put 25K on it since then. I had a belt jump its track and eat off a rib. So I got to checking, and danged if the alternator wasnt the culprit. As soon as it cranked, and the belt moved an inch, it jumped. So I took the belt off, and rotated the pulley, and it grabs about every 15 deg. Feels like the brushes or maybe a bearing. It doesnt turn nice and smooth like Mom's. This is supposedly a rebuilt alternator from Advance in ColoSpgs (at the time, I was under the delusion that my BS case here in the nation's buttcrack wouldnt go to trial, and got the part where it was in stock). I think it's more along the lines of a polished case, and make sure output is within spec. I'm darned near ready to pass this thing on to someone else- it runs ok, but the body is falling apart, and the interior is showing its age- but I'd be out more than I'd get to get something else as dependable for the money. Bargains aint always as they appear. Of course, if Kyle (kid that has my old 93) and I hadnt had a duck fart rice spanking party in town last night, it may help stuff last longer. Wouldnt think that'd affect the alternator, though.

Where can I get a kit to do the rebuild myself (i've torn into injector pumps with no ill effects), for less than a shop would charge to do it?

Daniel